Redhill Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P421) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Redhill Aerodrome Limited).[2]
It is serviced by a brasserie and coffee house called The Pilot's Hub[3] which is situated within Hangar 9 at the aerodrome. The Pilot's Hub is open 7 days a week and is open to the public. It has a large outdoor viewing area and seating area as well as indoor seating and conference room hire. Hangar 9 itself is full of light aircraft, many of them historic, and visitors to The Pilot's Hub can walk around the hangar to see the aircraft close up.
The Fairey Battle was also flown particularly for use with the Polish Grading and Testing Flight which was formed here on 14 March 1940.[7]
With the threat of a German attack on the airfield the Flying Training School moved to northern England in June 1940.[citation needed]
RAF Redhill
With the withdrawal of the Flying Training School the airfield became an operational RAF station. First to move in were 16 Squadron operating the Westland Lysander. The Lysanders did not stay long and RAF Redhill had many short-term deployments, mainly of fighter squadrons.
In August 1942 the airfield had five squadrons based. By the end of 1943 the fighter squadrons had moved on and the airfield was used by support units until the end of the war.
The airfield returned to civilian use in 1947 but was suspended in 1954. In 1959 flying resumed at Redhill when the Tiger Club moved in. The following year Bristow Helicopters started to use Redhill as an operating base and carry out helicopter maintenance for the next 40 years.
The airfield is still operated for private flying and training, with an emphasis on helicopter operators, and additionally functions as an important reliever airport for Gatwick Airport. Pilots can use three grass runways. Information on the aerodrome's state can be found on the operator's, Redhill Aerodrome Limited, website.[8]
The aerodrome has its own Air Traffic Control[9] and fire and rescue services.
The airfield has also been the venue for the flying displays and aviation trade shows, including the annual Redhill Airshow in the past, which was focused around a charitable cause.
About to land on runway 26L, now 25L, in a Piper Cherokee
On 17 May 2012 it was announced that the owners of Redhill Aerodrome had again submitted a planning application for a hard runway[10] after the previous plan had been rejected in 2011.[11] Opponents at the time, including local MP Sam Gyimah, argued that the runway would "create an unacceptable level of noise and pollution and destroy the landscape". In June 2013 the second application was also refused.[12] In February 2014 the aerodrome lost a planning appeal; it was appealing against the June 2013 decision to reject the planning application.[13]
At the start of 2013, the Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance service relocated its helicopter to Redhill from Dunsfold Aerodrome in order to enable it to provide a night flight service across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.[14]
On 24 December 2013, the aerodrome suffered storm damage and flooding, with some light aircraft overturned.[15]
Places listed are articles notable as settlements, arranged by post town The two principal towns are emboldened The M23 motorway follows approximately a boundary and is chiefly included for its regional importance.
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